WEST POINT, Ga. – The University of Tennessee Southern men's basketball closed out their final road trip of January battling the Skyhawks. The Firehawks doubled up Point knocking down eight treys winning 75-62 to extend the UTS win streak to three. UTS improved to 8-11 overall and 5-5 in league play.
Four Firehawks tallied double figures in points. Zaiden Cross led the Firehawks with 15 points and nine rebounds. Mike Bell, Jr. contributed 13 points. Mike Vance pitched in 12 points. Christian Adun added 10 points in his return to the hardwood.
UTS opened the match connecting on four of their first eight shots leading 9-2. The Firehawks pushed their lead out to 11 halfway through the first half. PU battled back to close the gap to four multiple times including with 26 seconds left in the half. Bell, Jr. drained a three at the halffime buzzer giving the Firehawks a 36-30 advantage at the half. UTS shot 14-32 (44%) including four shots from range. In the second half, the Firehawks shot almost 60 percent in the half distancing themselves from the Skyhawks. Cross netted 13 of his 15 points in the last 20 minutes. UTS shot 31-61 for 51 percent from the field knocking down eight trifectas.
BY THE NUMBERS
50.8 – UTS shot 31-61 for 50.8 percent outshooting the Skyhawks' 19-50 (38%).
8 – UTS drained eight triples, four more than PU.
5 – UTS connected on five of 10 free throws, to PU's 20 of 27 from the foul line.
31 – The Firehawks pulled down 31 rebounds in the game, three more than the Skyhawks.
25 – UT Southern led by as many as 25 in the game, this occurred at the 4:24 mark in the final half.
21 – UTS had 21 points from the reserves, 19 more than Point.
NEXT UP
The Firehawks will return to the CAC on Thursday, January 30, hosting Middle Georgia State. The Firehawks and Knights are set to tipoff at 7:30 p.m.
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